Students are having to appeal tickets for parking in the wrong spots in on-campus parking lots.
Across the campus, there are four small areas reserved solely for visitors to park, as well as a few single spots scattered throughout the area.
The four lots, marked in pink on the campus map, are located around the outside edge of the university.
On any given day, drivers with a visitor’s pass may park anywhere except the Cokesbury and Methodist lots. But, students usually occupy these spots because they are labeled as general parking.
The current visitor slots may suffice for an average day, but as soon as the university hosts an event, the lots overflow.
Additionally, parking restrictions are not enforced at night.
If a guest arrives after the visitor center is closed, they have no way to obtain a pass, and students can fill the visitor spaces without fear of being ticketed.
Student parking violations result in a $50 ticket that can be appealed through a form found in the police department within 10 days of the issuance.
The police chief decides to either uphold or dismiss the ticket.
If he upholds it, the student may appeal the decision to the student court, who determine the final ruling.
“A few students have tried to appeal tickets from parking in visitor spots,” said Harmonniey Cheadle, chief justice of the student court. “Some were successful, but most students are more worried about their family and friends having a place to park.”
The relocation of the law school will open up at least three more parking areas, but their labels have not been announced.
“I haven’t heard of any requests to increase visitor parking,” said Bradd Brown, chief of police in the OCU Police Department.
“However, I have had numerous requests to increase general parking.
“Hopefully, with the law school move in January and the parking spaces gained by the move, we can increase both.”
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